There's no evidence that he had not repented either. I say again: Do you know what the man's thoughts were in his last moments?
Did you read the Bible passages that I gave you? Didn't Paul tell us who to judge (those within the church) and who not to judge (those outside the church)?
That man's life was defined by much more than his sexual orientation. The church could have spoken of those things during the service and used it as a time to witness to others who had never heard the gospel and who had been shunned by Christians.
And, yes, I am judging you as well as that church. You should read the Bible passages I referenced and give them some deep thought. Many did not hear the gospel preached because that church refused to host a funeral service for a gay man, whose spiritual state was unknown. You agree to that decision. How many would have accepted the gospel if they had heard it? Only God knows.
What kind of sinners should we give the opportunity to hear the gospel? Obviously, to you, homosexuals are out. How about those who commit adultery? Well, yeah, Jesus did give the gospel to the woman at the well, so maybe we should share the gospel to adulterers, but not to gays. And how about Rahab the prostitute, who was an ancestor of Jesus. Should the Hebrews have stoned her instead of taking her in? Or is it okay to preach the gospel to any sinner as long as they're not homosexuals?
Jesus was condemned for associating with sinners. Would you have condemned him as well?
Seems to me that you're slamming others in your perfection. All I've read is what YOU'RE doing and not what Christ is doing through you.
You've totally missed the boat and haven't understood anything that I've written. I showed love to my friend -- as did his sister and niece -- because that's what God tells us to do. I'm not bragging on myself. All I'm doing is saying that we chose to obey God by showing his love to people who were sinners.
Sin doesn't belong in Gods house. Neither does turning a blind eye to it.
God lives in our hearts, not in buildings. I hate to say this because you're going to accuse me of judging, but you need to do some serious studying of the Bible.
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?... For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3.16-17)
And no, I'm not turning a blind eye to sin. The friend I spoke of resisted for a long time. He had been rejected by his father and most members of his family. We had to love him while he was a sinner, not demand that he quit sinning before we would love him.
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:7–8)Yes, we should invite sinners to church. That's not desecrating God's house because God does not live in a church building. Christ DIED for us while we were yet sinners. Let that sink in for a few moments. If he died for us while we were sinners, is it really that big of a deal to invite known sinners to enter a church and hear the gospel?
Tell me the truth, if that man had cheated at cards, divorced his wife, or padded his resume (lying), would you have felt okay about letting him have a funeral service in church? If so, then why not let him in because he was a homosexual? Some sins are worse than others, but sin is still sin.
Get over your hang-ups about homosexuality. Go to an AIDS hospice and offer to pray with those who want it. You would be surprised at how many will accept your offer of prayer. Don't require them to renounce homosexuality before they become a Christian. God will convict them of their sin and begin working in their lives after they become a Christian. If the topic comes up, calmly say something like "yes, homosexuality is a sin, but Jesus willingly gave his life on the cross for all sins, including homosexuality." That's not "winking at sin," it's telling them the truth in a loving manner.
No and neither does anyone else. God knows. I'm human and can only judge by what "fruits" we see. And there are none to judge.
Jesus was condemned for associating with sinners. Would you have condemned him as well?
Jesus sought them out OUTSIDE of the church and told them to repent.
I'm not bragging on myself.
Yes. You have. And condemned other Christians for not doing things your way. According to you, the only way.
I hate to say this because you're going to accuse me of judging, but you need to do some serious studying of the Bible.
You didn't hate to say it. I've met too many like you at church.
God does not live in a church building.
I don't know what church you attend but God is ALWAYS in His house waiting to be loved and praised.
Get over your hang-ups about homosexuality.
You don't know me. Or where I've been. Or what I've done. You mistakenly make many assumptions. You need to get over that.
This church chose NOT to allow a service for an active, practicing, unrepentant homosexual. They followed their conscience. In this day and age of PC churches, good on them!